Calgary police expand online crime reporting to promote social distancing

Calgary police have expanded the range of incidents that people can report online as a way to ensure safe social distancing during the COVID-19 emergency.

Calgarians can now use the Calgary Police Service online reporting tool for incidents where there is a suspect, security camera video or forensic evidence — which was not allowed until now, police said in a release.

Online reports can be made at CalgaryPolice.ca (click on Report a Crime).

Available categories for reporting online have been expanded to include:

• Theft from vehicles (car prowling) with no limit on the value of property.
• Theft of property (with no limit on property value).
• Theft of credit or debit cards (when that is the only item missing).
• Mischief to vehicles such as vandalism (unless there is evidence of a collision, such as paint transfer).
• Mischief to property such as vandalism.
• Lost property (with the exception of government-issued ID such as passports). Call your local district office to report lost government issued documents.
• Attempted thefts of vehicles, regardless of damage value.
• Break and enter into unlocked premises, other than residential, including sheds, parking garages, storage lockers, detached garages, etc. Residential and commercial break and enters should still be reported to 403-266-1234.
• Theft from a parkade or vehicle parked in a parkade, but only if there was no forced entry. Otherwise, call 403-266-1234.
• Theft of mail, including deliveries from services such as UPS.
• Stolen property for sale online, such as on Kijiji, Craigslist and Facebook.

For all other property-related offences, such as non-injury collisions, call your local district office, police said.

Officers are available to answer questions and take some reports over the phone.

Call 403-266-1234 for late reporting of crimes involving violence against people. This includes all forms of abuse, robberies and break and enters in residences, police said.

And always call 911 for crimes in progress. 

Officers are also available to answer general questions on social media: @CalgaryPolice on Twitter and Facebook.com/CalgaryPolice.